Servers and bartenders or licensees whose employees provide alcohol to the minor or fail to verify their age, are subject to OLCC administrative sanctions including fines or license suspensions. Store clerks who sell are cited into court and face at least a $350 fine.

Four inspectors and several minor volunteers did the compliance testing Mar. 9 as part of the OLCC’s priority effort to curtail underage drinking, which is a major problem in Oregon.

In a compliance test, the volunteer attempts to buy alcohol from licensees or their employees to determine if they are properly checking identification and obeying state law prohibiting alcohol sales to anyone under 21. The minors are supervised by OLCC inspectors or other law officers, carry their own legal ID and are advised not to disguise their age or encourage the sale of alcohol.

The OLCC tested about 1,600 licensed liquor businesses in 2006, and a number of police agencies also do compliance checks.